RCD Mallorca facts for kids
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| Full name | Real Club Deportivo Mallorca, S.A.D. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Los Piratas (The Pirates) Los Bermellones (The Vermilions) Els Barralets (The Barralet) |
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| Founded | 5 March 1916 as Alfonso XIII Foot-Ball Club | |||
| Ground | Estadi Mallorca Son Moix | |||
| Capacity | 25,800 | |||
| Owner | Andy Kohlberg (majority) Steve Nash (minority) Steve Kerr (minority) Stu Holden (minority) |
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| President | Andy Kohlberg | |||
| Head coach | Jagoba Arrasate | |||
| League | La Liga | |||
| 2022–23 | La Liga, 9th of 20 | |||
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Real Club Deportivo Mallorca, S.A.D. (Spanish: [reˈal ˈkluβ ðepoɾˈtiβo maˈʎoɾka], Catalan: Reial Club Deportiu Mallorca [rəˈjal ˈklub dəpuɾˈtiw məˈʎɔɾkə], Royal Sporting Club Mallorca), commonly known as Real Mallorca or RCD Mallorca, is a Spanish professional football club based in Palma on the island of Mallorca in the Balearic Islands. Founded on 5 March 1916, they currently compete in La Liga, holding home games at the Estadi Mallorca Son Moix with a 23,142-seat capacity.
The club had its peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s, reaching a best-ever third place in La Liga in 1999 and 2001 and winning the Copa del Rey in 2003 following final defeats in 1991, 1998 and 2024. Mallorca also won the 1998 Supercopa de España and reached the 1999 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final.
Mallorca traditionally play in red shirts with black shorts and socks.
Contents
History
The early years
Founded on 5 March 1916, what would later become RCD Mallorca was registered at the Spanish Football Federation under the name of Alfonso XIII Foot-Ball Club.
Weeks after its establishment, the club wasted little time forming the directors of Alfonso XIII FBC, headed by engineer Adolfo Vázquez Humasqué and eight other football fans. Their first stadium, the Buenos Aires field, was inaugurated with a competitive fixture against FC Barcelona just 20 days after registering further fast-tracked development. Despite the fixture ending in a disappointing 8–0 defeat, it was not long before King Alfonso XIII himself requested the royal adoption of ‘Real’ in the team's title, therefore becoming Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII Foot-Ball Club.
In 1917, the Catalan Federation granted Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII admission into the second-tier league championship as an unofficial champion of the Balearic Islands. Booking a place in the final, Los Bermellones went on to record their first title with a resounding 3–1 victory over Futbol Club Palafrugell, in Barcelona.
Until the 1930s, the board of directors managed to organise fixtures against peninsular clubs such as RCD Espanyol and Real Murcia, while also hosting rare exhibitions against foreign sides including: Ajax in 1923, Uruguay's national team in 1925, Chilean outfit Colo-Colo in 1927 and one of the Czech Republic's oldest teams, Prague Meteor, in 1930, the latter under coach Jack Greenwell, and with Antolín Arnau, Felipe Ferrer, and Pedro Pizá among its players.
In 1931, following the establishment of the Second Spanish Republic which prohibited any form of reference to monarchy, the club was renamed to Club Deportivo Mallorca.
Although major fixtures and competitions across Spain were soon interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936, the squad enjoyed a highly successful spell by winning every possible championship they entered into, as football on the island remained resistant to the deferral experienced throughout the country. When the war finally ended, matches with teams from the Peninsula were quick to resume and the Second Division was inaugurated, based on five groups of eight teams each.
It was during a period in the Second Division that, on 22 September 1945, the time had come to wave goodbye to Buenos Aires Field and up sticks to Es Fortí, a 16,000-maximum capacity stadium which would be called home for over half a century and undergo several expansions. A line-up featuring forward Sebastián Pocoví, defender Saturnino Grech and goalkeeper Antoni Ramallets beat Jerez 3–0 on the opening game of the new campaign the following day, with Carlos Sanz scoring Es Fortí's first goal in front of packed-out terraces. The title Es Fortí was short-lived however, with the board later changing the name of the stadium to Lluís Sitjar, in honour of the man who had driven the construction of the field.
During the 1949–1950 season, the Balearic club recovered their "Real" title, becoming Real Club Deportivo Mallorca
1960–1990
On 17 April 1960 Mallorca beat Levante 2-1 which confirmed promotion to La Liga for the first time in the clubs 44 year history.
In their first season in the Spanish First Division, the 1960/61 season, Mallorca finished 9th out of 16 teams, on 28 points just 2 points Oviedo in the relegation playoffs.[1] They were knocked out of the Copa Del Rey in the round of 16 to Sevilla 4-3 across two legs.
Mallorca were then relegated back down to the Segunda Division after finishing 13th in the 1962/63 season, losing to Espanyol in the playoffs.
After finishing first in the 1964/65 Segunda Division season they were relegated again in the 1965/66 La Liga season after finishing a disappointing 15th, tied on points with Sabadell in 14th and Real Betis in 16th.
Mallorca would spend a few more seasons which saw them finish in the top 5 every season but were not promoted until the 1968/69 season which saw them finish 3rd, just 3 points off of first place Sevilla. Despite this, Mallorca once again were relegated immediately, ending the 1969/70 La Liga season in 15th, only above Pontevedra who finished on just 13 points.
Mallorca would then sit in the lower half of the Segunda Division until the 1974/75 season which saw them finish a lowly 17th and ultimately being relegated to the Tercera División for the 1975/76 season, in which they finished 8th in their group.
Mallorca would then fall further down the Spanish football divisions being relegated to the 4th division for the 1978/79 season.
These tough times would not last however, as Mallorca would get back-to-back promotions, finishing first in the 1979/80 fourth division season and then again in the 1980/81 Tercera División.
Mallorca continued this streak of form with another promotion back to La Liga after finishing third in the 1982/83 Segunda Division.
These good times would end as Mallorca would end up relegated again after finishing the 1983/84 La Liga season in 17th on a mere 21 points.
Once again, Mallorca would come back after finishing the 1985/86 Segunda Division in 3rd, gaining promotion to La Liga for the 1986/87 season.
1990s and 2000s: Peak
In 1990–91, Mallorca reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time, losing by one goal to Atlético Madrid.
Argentine Héctor Cúper was hired as manager in 1997. In his first season, the club reached the 1998 Copa del Rey Final, and lost on penalties to FC Barcelona after a 1–1 draw in Mestalla. However, as Barcelona also won the league, Mallorca were their opponents in the 1998 Supercopa de España and won 3–1 on aggregate for their first major honour. Barcelona's double also meant Mallorca entered the 1998–99 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the final staging of the tournament – they lost the final 2–1 to Italy's S.S. Lazio at Villa Park.
In 1999, Mallorca also finished a best-ever 3rd and qualified for the first time to the UEFA Champions League, but were eliminated on the away goals rule by Molde FK of Norway before the group stage. Luis Aragonés matched 3rd place in 2001, before leaving for an Atlético Madrid still in the second tier. On 28 June 2003, Mallorca won the Copa del Rey with a 3–0 win over Recreativo de Huelva in the final in Elche; the goals were scored by Walter Pandiani and Samuel Eto'o (two).
2010s: Decline and return
Mallorca was relegated from La Liga on the last day of the 2012–13 season. In January 2016, with the team at risk of relegation to the third tier, American investor Robert Sarver and former NBA player Steve Nash bought the club for just over €20 million.
On 4 June 2017, Mallorca fell into the third tier for the first time since 1981, with one game of the season still to play. A year later, they bounced back in the 2017–18 season after winning the play-off final against CF Rayo Majadahonda, under new manager Vicente Moreno. In June 2019, Mallorca secured a second consecutive promotion to the 2019–20 La Liga, following a 3–2 win on aggregate over Deportivo de La Coruña in the 2019 Segunda División play-offs – having lost the first game 2–0. However, they were relegated a year later. A year later, Mallorca bounced back to the top tier following an Almería defeat to Cartagena. In 2024, Mallorca reached the Copa del Rey final for the first time since last winning the competition in 2003.
Season to season
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- 32 seasons in La Liga
- 37 seasons in Segunda División
- 3 seasons in Segunda División B
- 12 seasons in Tercera División
- 7 seasons in Divisiones Regionales
Players
Current squad
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Reserve team
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Out on loan
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Management and staff
Technical staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head coach |  Jagoba Arrasate |
| Assistant coach | Bittor Alkiza |
| Fitness coach | Sergi Pérez Miguel Artigues |
| Goalkeeping coach | Luisvi de Miguel |
| Analysts | Xisco Campos Xim López |
| Delegate | Chando Anabel Soto |
| Kit man | José Martín Aitor Hernández |
| Head of medical staff | Adolfo Muñoz |
| Nutritionist | Nuria Granados |
| Physiotherapist | Dani Guiscafré Toni Jordi Perelló Magí Vicens Ferran Rosselló |
| Rehab fitness coach | Christian Castilla |
Last updated: 1 September 2021
Source: [2]
Board of directors
President: Andy Kohlberg
Board of Directors Member: Glenn Carlson
Board of Directors Member: Sam Garvin
Honorary Secretary: Rosemary Mafuz
No Honorary Vicesecretary: Alfonso Díaz
Sports directors
CEO of Football: Pablo Ortells
Sports Director: Sergio Marty
Technical Secretary: Sergio Moya
Steering committee
CEO of Business: Alfonso Díaz
Finance Director: José Manuel Campos
Director of Legality, Compliance, Operations and HR: Lidia Navarro
Communications and Media Director: Héctor Martín
Marketing Director: Vanessa Feo
Social Area Director: Román Albarrán
Commercial Director: Rubén Forcada
Technology & Innovation Director: Roger Forns
Presidents
Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII Football Club
- Adolfo Vázquez Humasqué (1916)
- Antoni Moner (1916–19)
- Josep Ramis d'Ayreflor (1919–24)
- Antoni Moner (1924–26)
- Lluís Sitjar (1926–27)
- Sebastià Sancho (1927)
- Manuel Villalonga (1927–29)
- Josep Ramis d'Ayreflor / Sebastià Sancho (1929–30)
- Antonio Parietti / Lluís Sitjar (1930–31)
Club Deportivo Mallorca
- Lluís Sitjar / Josep Sancho / Ramón Cavaller (1931–32)
- Miquel Seguí (1932–34)
- Llorenç Lladó / Andreu Homar (1934–35)
- Andreu Homar (1935–43)
- Lluís Sitjar (1943–46)
- Félix Pons Marqués (1946–47)
Real Club Deportivo Mallorca
- Joaquín Fuster / Andreu Homar / Joan de Vidal (1948–51)
- Antoni Buades / Josep Tous (1951)
- Antoni Buades / José María del Valle (1952)
- Llorenç Munar (1955)
- Jaume Rosselló (1956–61)
- Llorenç Munar (1961)
- Joan de Vidal (1964–66)
- Josep Barona (1966–67)
- Josep Barona / Pau Servera (1967–68)
- Pau Servera / Guillem Ginard (1969–70)
- Guillem Ginard / Josep Fandós (1970–71)
- Josep Fandós (1971–72)
- Joan de Vidal (1972–74)
- Joan de Vidal / Antoni Seguí (1974–75)
- Antonio Seguí / Joan Ferrer (1975–76)
- Guillem Ginard (1976-77)
- Guillem Ginard / Miquel Contestí (1977–78)
- Miquel Contestí (1978–92)
- Miquel Dalmau (1992–95)
- Bartomeu Beltrán (1995–98)
- Guillem Reynés (1998–00)
- Mateu Alemany (2000–05)
- Vicenç Grande (2005–08)
- Mateu Alemany (2008–09)
- Tomeu Vidal (2009–10)
- Josep Maria Pons (2010)
- Jaume Cladera (2010–12)
Honours
Domestic competitions
- Copa del Rey
- Winners (1): 2002–03
- Runners-up (3): 1990–91, 1997–98, 2023–24
- Supercopa de España
- Winners (1): 1998
- Runners-up (1): 2003
- Segunda División
- Winners (2): 1959–60, 1964–65
- Play-off Winners (1): 2019
- Segunda División B
- Winners (2): 1980–81, 2017–18
International competitions
- UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
- Runners-up (1): 1998–99
Records
Team
- Best La Liga position: Third (1998–99, 2000–01)
- Record La Liga win: 7–1 v Recreativo de Huelva (h), 9 March 2008
- Record La Liga defeat: 7–0 v Atlético Madrid (a), 7 Feb 1988
- Fastest goal: 22 seconds - Dani García v Real Oviedo, 21 Feb 1999.
- Most goals scored in a season: 69 (2007–08)
Individual
Notable players
Most appearances
| # | Name | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| 1° | Miguel Ángel Nadal |
255 |
| 2° |  José Nunes |
222 |
| 3° | Javier Olaizola |
206 |
| 4° |  Ariel Ibagaza |
204 |
| 5° | Víctor Casadesús |
197 |
| 6° |  Juan Arango |
183 |
| 7° |  Jovan Stanković |
175 |
| 8° | Marcos |
171 |
| 9° | Paco Soler |
168 |
| 10° |  Dudu Aouate |
167 |
| 11° | Iván Ramis |
164 |
| 12° | José Luis Martí |
161 |
Top scorers
| # | Name | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1° |  Samuel Eto'o |
70 |
| 2° | Abdón Prats |
52 |
| 3° | Juan Arango |
46 |
| 4° | Víctor Casadesús |
37 |
| 5° |  Vedat Muriqi |
29 |
| 6° | Daniel Güiza |
28 |
| 7° | Pierre Webó |
27 |
- Pichichi Trophy
- La Liga
- Daniel Güiza – 27 (2007–08)
- La Liga
- Ricardo Zamora Trophy
- La Liga
- Carlos Roa – 1998–99
- Segunda División
Badou Zaki – 1988–89
- La Liga
World Cup players
The following players have been selected by their country in the World Cup Finals, while playing for Mallorca.
Zoran Vulić (1990)- Iván Campo (1998)
- Carlos Roa (1998)
- Albert Luque (2002)
- Miguel Ángel Nadal (2002)
- Samuel Eto'o (2002)
- Pierre Webó (2010)
Liassine Cadamuro-Bentaïba (2014)
Lee Kang-in (2022)
Predrag Rajković (2022)
Club information
- Members: 12,107 (2020–21)
- Total Attendance in La Liga: 205,828 (2019–20)
- Average Attendance: 10,836 Spectators (2019–20)
- Official shirt manufacturer: Nike
- Official shirt sponsors: αGEL
- Other sponsors: Coca-Cola, CaixaBank, Estrella Damm, PayPal, Fibwi, juaneda, Air Europa, Specialized Bicycle Components, okmobility, Alua Hotels & Resorts
Stadium information
- Name – Visit Mallorca Stadium
- City – Palma de Mallorca
- Capacity – 23,142
- Inauguration – June 1999
- Pitch size – 107 m x 69 m
- Other Facilities: – Antonio Asensio Sports Complex (aka "Son Bibiloni")
- Google Maps Location – Visit Mallorca Stadium
Affiliated teams
- RCD Mallorca B – Reserve team
See also
In Spanish: Real Club Deportivo Mallorca para niños
